Leaving Taiyuan

Today we are flying 3 hours to Guangzhou. This is where the American Consulate is located. Here we will complete our adoption paperwork.
We are hoping that Teresa does not have any difficulty breathing on the plane.

The heat index in Guangzhou is 110. Very hot!

Teresa continues to adjust very well to her new life with us.
We are trying to keep her excitement level very low as not to get her heart rate up too high ( she takes medicine to lower her rate)
She is already speaking several English words very clearly.
She goes potty all the time because of the diuretics , so we are trying to keep her from getting dehydrated in the heat with out giving her too much fluids . Going to the squatty potties here is a bit of a challenge.

More Photos

Day 3

We passed the first night test.

The first night of sleep is always a little different. Teresa did wonderful. She was not quite sure about it but when I showed her her bed and where Grace and Lucy were sleeping ( They had passed out many hours earlier from exhaustion and jet lag) she was fine . She slept the entire night very peacefully.

Today I received and email from Jenny Bowen the CEO of China Care. She had been trying very hard to find a home for Teresa and was so happy that she finally had. She shared something with me that was so amazing. For days now I have described Teresa as loving , kind, caring,but she found the word that was perfect. She said she has met many children over the years and they are all special but Teresa was ...MAGICAL. And she was exactly right . You can feel this as soon as you meet her.

We pray that GOD will share Teresa with us for many many years.


On a different note , I have been informed by my 24 year old son that I am not doing spell check. Eddy I am sorry but with jet lag, time change and all of Teresa's medicines and health care , spell check is the least of my worries. Sorry I have never been a writer.

This morning we go back to Civil Afairs Office and Teresa will BE OURS Forever!!!!!!!

Taiyuan/ Day 2

This morning we are headed to the Civil Affairs Office to start the adoption paperwork . We will be given 24 hours custody of Teresa and then return to the CAO on Tuesday to sign the final papers.

With each of our girls adoptions we have had 5 different experiences. Mary came to us at 2 1/2 years old , in the orphanage the entire time. she would not make eye contact or talk to us for a week. Lucy was 3 years old and lived in the orphanage for a while and then foster family and back and forth to the hospital . She was very sick when we got her . She would joke and laugh and do little tricks to try and make us love her. Emilia was 4 years old and live with a foster family who let her do what ever she wanted . She wanted no parts of us and made it clear by telling every one " I don't want this Mamma". Gemma was 3 years old and was in a foster Family that dearly loved her. We had the privilege of meeting them and seeing just how much she was loved. Teresa is three and 1/2 years old and has lived in the China Care Home her whole life. She was very well taken care of and loved .

With all of the girls, Teresa is the only one who has shown an understanding for what is happening to her. She wants us and a family. All of the girls love their family now , but it was a long process of grieving and adapting to the new change of their life.

Teresa has such a kind and gentle nature to her . She will sit in our laps and gently stroke our face with her hand and look into our eyes as if she is saying it is ok now .
This morning at breakfast her nanny told us she was very sad last night because she thought we had left her here and were not going to take her home with us.

Her whole adoption process has been such an amazing journey.
We are so blessed to have her in our family.
Please pray for her to continue to stay healthy for our travel home.

Tonight Lily went back to Beijing. Before she left we reviewed all of Teresa's care. Lily told us it was a miracle that Teresa is alive still.

She takes so many heart medicines . ( More than you Dad) We have them all written down and are trying to remember everything to do .
Teresa has 2 holes in her heart so large that we can not believe she is walking and playing with her sisters so well.
She also has pulmonary hypertension, one single ventricle, VSD of 20mm, ASDof 23mm, and large tricuspid reflex. Her oxygen levels ar 75% very low. Lily told us if it drops to 60% to become very worried. We are already very worried. Trying to keep her away from all of the smoke and pollution here is very difficult. When she eats or drinks her lips turn purple. She sarted today sneezing and coughing more. We are praying that she is not getting sick.

She continues to love being with us and we are so very happy to have her . She is so special .She is kind and gentle.

Tomorrow we return to the Civil affairs Office to finalize her adoption.

Beijing/Taiyuan

Today we spent the morning playing with the children in the China care orphanage. One little two year old boy fell in love with Ed. Every time we came into his room , he would run up to ed and want to be held. He has a heart defect and down syndrome.
Teresa was so excited to see us again. We can not beleive how happy and loving she is to us already . When we came back to see her all of the children started to call us Momma and Babbba. Teresa immediatly told them that we were HER Momma and Babba. Every time we leave she cries and will not let us go . Is is amazing to see how she so desperatly wants a family. Her Nanny told us yesterday that she has the insight of an older child and feels emotions that most children her age do not. We thought wow that is really great and then we met her we could see exactly what she was talking about. She is so kind and carring.

We then took the train to Taiyaun, ShanXi. this is the province Teresa was born in . She was so good on the train .

We are still learning how to care for her with all of medical conditions. They are teaching us a little at a time so we do not get overwhelmed. It is a little stressful making sure we measure all of her fluids to make sure she does not get too much , but also to make sure she does not get dehydrated. The medical director of China Care came with us. After Tuesday we will be on our own as she will return to Beijing.

She continues to be such a joy to be around and she loves Grace and Mary.




Me again . I forgot to mention that the blog is being blocked by the Chinese government so Alex is forwarding all post. I can not see it so if you would like to reach us you would have to use my email.
mykidsmom1986@yahoo.com

Beijing

We arrived Saturday afternoon in Beijing. Lynsay and Bill met us at the airport with their two daughters AND Josiah and Faith ! He has gotten so big . He looks fantastic and is so cute.
After visiting with them for a while we then went to the China Care Home in Beijing. We are staying at the Internationl Apartments. This is the same building the China Care Home is in . After checking in we were able to meet with Teresa's Nanny and receive an update on her condition . We then went down to visit with Teresa. She is absolutely adorable. As soon as she saw us come in she ran up to me and gave me and Ed a big hug and kiss saying" My Momma, my babba". she then went to all of her little friends saying I have a Momma and Babba. She then ran to the closet to show us her box of goodies we had sent her. Her nanny told us when she opened the box last month she was so excited to see "her family" and that she was going to go "Home" with us. She is a very loving little girl , she loves to give hugs and kisses. Her personality is very sweet and gentle. we stayed and played with her and her friends for awhile and then headed back to our room to get Grace and Lucy ready for bed . They are exhausted. When we left she became very quiet and sad. We explained to her that we were coming back tomorrow morning but she was not buying it . I know she thought we were leaving her , but the nanny kept trying to reassure her that we would be back.

We are so lucky that she was prepared so well for our arrival. She knew all of us right away and was not afraid .

Her health has us very concerned . We knew coming over how sick she was but all the pictures we have received had her looking so good .
She is absolutely adorable and has the personality to match, but she is VERY tiny (Maybe 20 pounds). Her liquid intake is closely monitored ( if she gets too much liquid it quickly builds up in her body causing her eyes and neck to swell and could then lead to heart failure). She is on several heart medicines ( we will find out tomorrow), and if she gets a fever we are to take her immediatly to the closest hospital. She gets pneomonia very often because of her damaged lungs. Her oxygen levels are in the low 70's(normal is above 95).

So what we need are PRAYERS. Please pray for her to stay stable , no fevers, infections, breathing difficulties or heart problems.

Tomorrow we take a three hour train ride from Beijing to Taiyuan to start the adoption paperwork.

15 hours of ...

I use to really dislike the 15 hour plane ride to China , but now I am actually looking forward to it .

15 hours of doing nothing , just watching a movie or reading or maybe even sleeping.
15 hours of not running here or there ,cleaning, cooking, shopping ...
15 hours to just be still. I can not wait.

2 More Days!

Thank you to everyone who helped us get to this point.

We are leaving very early Friday morning for China to bring Teresa home.

I have spent the last week packing and re packing trying to consolidate everything into 4 suitcases. I am packing very light this time because we are taking 2 trains while in China. Traveling by train is a bit of a challenge because you board the train yourself with all of your suitcases ( and 3 kidos). So getting on and off is a little chaotic.

We are so excited to finally get to see Teresa and hold her but at the same time a little sad . We tried very hard to bring Josiah home too , but it looks like that will not happen.

Our social worker added an addendum to our Home Study and I spoke with our Immigration Officer . Lynsay spoke to Josiahs orphange director in Beijing and he promised to start his adoption paperwork ASAP, but the problem was ASAP was not fast enough . It usually takes many months to put together a childs adoption file in China and we only had a few weeks. But we know with GOD all things are possible . It just looks like this time it will not be possible...

Back in December, GOD led us to his orphanage(there are thousands of orphanages in China we could have gone to that day ), to the room in the orphanage where he was laying in the corner starving to death . The next day we met Lynsay and Bill. She had him moved to their orphanage( they take care of very sick children in their orphanage). For the past 6 months he has flourished in their care.

I was hoping it was GODS' WILL for him to be in our family but if it is not I pray that his family will find him soon. He is a very special little boy .

It will be very hard leaving him there a second time but I know he will be in good hands with Lynsay and Bill in their orphanage( Morning Star Foster Home ).

Please pray for Teresa to stay strong and well so she can make the long journey home.

Fourth of July

Thank you Catonsville for another Great Fourth of July Celebration!

Minnie Mouse

A few weeks ago we sent Teresa a box of goodies and some family photos so she could see her new family . Today we received the pictures of her opening them . She is so cute and she looks like she loves her new Minnie Mouse dress that Lucy picked out for her.

8 more days !

Basket Bingo

Thank you Robin for a wonderful day of Bingo!!! We appreciate all your hard work. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us .

One amazing young lady !

The unselfish heart of an eleven year old girl is helping to save the heart of a three year old girl.

Megan, our daughter Grace's friend , celebrated her 11th. birthday yesterday . For her birthday she asked all of her friends not to buy her a birthday present but instead to make a donation to help bring Liu Fang( Teresa) home.

This unselfish act of kindness from Megan was amazing! We are so deeply touched by your kindness and generousity . We are very proud to have you as one of Grace's friends.

To all of the friends at the party , Thank You for your donations !!

You are all very special people.

Basket / Bag Bingo

We are very close to reaching our adoption expenses but are still short almost $11,000.

Come join us on Sunday for our last fundraising event.
A Basket and Bag bingo being held at ;

MD. City Volunteer Fire Department in Laurel
3498 Fort Mead Road
Laurel, MD. 20724

Doors open at 1
Bingo starts at 2
Includes a basket donated and signed by Tami Longaberger !

For info. call Robin -410.868.7029 or
me 410.744.7514


We are very grateful for any help you may give .

Community

Today as I started to pack for China, I couldn't help but think of how far we have come in 3 months. Three months ago when we started the process to adopt Liu Fang, we didn't know how we were going to afford it , we had just returned home from China with our ninth child. Having adopted 4 children in 5 years had left us totally broke. We used all of our savings and our retirement to pay for all 4 adoptions. We knew we had no way of paying for this adoption , but had total trust in God to provide a way ... and HE did.

It takes a community to raise a child , well it also takes a community to bring a child home too.

Our community , Church, friends and complete strangers have all helped us in this process to bring Teresa home. Ed and I never wanted to go "public" with our need for help , but GOD had other plans. He was teaching us humility . It is a very humbling experience to have to ask for help at such an enormous level. We just wanted to do GOD'S will and live quietly , but through this experience we have learned so much . Our faith has deepened and our community and friends have shown us unconditional love. You have all played a huge part in bringing Teresa home. You are all her family too.

I know that there will always be one more child that needs a home...
I know that I can not save them all...
But IF I had the money I would.
There is ALWAYS room at our table for one more.

Travel dates

We will leave for China on July 9.Fly from Baltimore to Newark , Newark to Beijing and arrive almost 24 hours later on July 10.
We will stay one night in Beijing and then meet Teresa on Sunday and take the train to Taiyuan Shanxi.
Monday July 12, we will conduct adoption registration paperwork and notarization formalities.
Tuesday July 13, apply for Teresa's passport.
Wed. July 14, Fly to Guangzhou ( this is where The US consulate is located)
Thursday July 15, Have visa photos taken and physical examination.
Friday July 16 , Free Day
Saturday July 17, Check TB test results
Sunday July 18, Free Day
Monday July 19, Go to US Consulate to submit orphan visa petition documents.
Tuesday July 20, Go to US Consulate for the Oath Taking ceremony.
Tuesday afternoon , hopefully pick up brown envelope with adoption papers and Visa.
(If it is not ready we will have to return on Wed. to pick up)
Tuesday night or wed. , take train to Hong Kong
Thursday July 22, fly home!
Thursday July 22 fly from Hong kong to Newark, Newark to Baltimore
Arrive home on continental at 5:30 pm.

Slammer Dogs

Today we went to Alderson West Virginia to meet Emilia's new best friend. Paws4people is a wonderful program that matches service dogs with children with special needs. The dogs are trained in prisons by the inmates. The families then travel to the prison and the child is introduced to several dogs. The dog actually picks it's new owner. The dog that bonded the best with Emilia is a 1 year old golden retriever named Mayzie. Mayzie is already trained with basic dog commands , now she will specifically be trained for Emilia's needs. In a few months we will return to the prison for her graduation and she will then be introduced into our family.

Emilia was so excited!

Adoptive Parent...

You Know You're An Adoptive Parent When . . .

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.

2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.

3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.

4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.



5. It drives you crazy when people ask you about your adopted child's "real" parents.

6. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)

7. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.

8. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.

19. You believe God's heart is for adoption.

10. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.

11. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!

12. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.

13. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.

-Author unknown

Basket and Bag Bingo

Wanted to let everyone know about another event our friend Robin is putting together for us. Basket and Bag Bingo - June 27 (Sunday ) 1:00. Being held at-Maryland City Volunteer Fire Department- 3498 Fort Mead Road, Laurel Maryland 20724

All Baskets and Bags will be filled and Robin even has a Basket donated and signed by Tami Longaberger !!!!

Please call Robin to reserve your tickets- 410.868.7029
(Or you may purchase tickets at the door)
Thank you Robin!!!

Car Wash

Just wanted to let everyone know about a charity car wash that our friend Denise has organized for us. This Saturday at OPIE'S, 9-3 June 19.

Thank you everyone for all of your help and support . We appreciate everything everyone is doing to help us bring Teresa home.

"IT"

Five years ago our accountant said we would be retired in 10 years and living comfortably if we did "IT" right. Five years later and retirement is NO WHERE in sight . I guess we did not do "IT" right.

What we did was to make a different choice. WE took a road less traveled... Stepped out in Faith... Took a leap of faith...Let go of the branch... What ever you call it , it's still the same . We chose total surrender to GODS WILL.

Life has not been easy. Our weeks are filled with Doctors appointments, physical therapy, surgeries, transfusions, x-rays, CAT scans, MRI's and speech. This was not my will . My will was to be retired and sit on a beautiful beach and watch the sun set every day . My will was not GOD's will. Some days when things seem too much to handle , I have to remind myself that this life will someday end but eternity is forever.

This is why Ed and I are adopting again.


"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."
— C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves)

Thank You !

Thank you to all of our wonderful friends in the Catonsville Community !!!!

WE are so grateful for your love and support. We are truly touched by your generosity and willingness to help us.

Thank you to St. Mark Church for all of the contributions and second collection . Your prayers and support have given us much needed encouragement.

Thank you to St. Mark school. The N.U.T. pass was amazing to see all of the students dressed in red for the day to support Liu Fang's Heart! The candy count was so sweet. The Bake Sale was a huge success. 4B , your contribution of your allowance money was very inspirational.

To ALL of our friends who helped put these events together, we are forever grateful. You have all helped to make the life of one orphan better.

Travel Approval!

Today we received our Travel Approval. This means we can now go to China to complete the adoption paperwork!!!!

Air fare to China has more than doubled since December and availability is VERY limited. Apparently EVERYONE in the world wants to go to China this summer.

I Should Be Happy...

Something has been bothering me for a while . I couldn't figure out just what it was. I should be happy... We are going back to China to bring our daughter home. Our community has embraced our plea for help to bring her home. Their willingness to help us has deeply touched my heart. I should be happy ... GOD has moved so many mountains for our adoption to be completed so quickly , almost flawlessly. In just a few weeks I will hold my new daughter for the first time. I should be happy...But I am not. Why am I not happy , I have a wonderful family with a loving husband , fantastic kids and a beautiful house. We have family dinners and family cookouts . We live in a wonderful community. But that was it , I have it all and I was going back to where 13million orphans have nothing. It is so easy to forget them , their faces, their names, their hugs...when I am here with all the comforts of home. But now that I am going back in a few weeks, all the emotions of what I have seen there are returning. I feel tremendous guilt that I am only bringing one child home. Five months have gone by and the children we met are still going to bed alone , getting up every morning by themselves alone, dressing , eating and waiting. Waiting for their family to come bring them home.

I am angry that I can not do more. I am angry that GOD has opened my eyes to see this. I am angry that I have so much but the most needy and helpless have so little. I am angry that the world is run by money.

I am very sad that I am going back to China and not able to do more to help the children that are left behind.

Prayers

WE received an update today on Liu Fang. She weighs 22 pounds ( a little small for 3 1/2 years old- her birthdate is December 25, 2006, she is a good 8 pounds less than Gemma) and she was in the hospital with pneumonia. Please pray for her complete recovery.

China Care and Half The SKy

China Care is a special Orphanage Home that was started in 2000 by a teenager wanting to help the special needs orphans of China (www.chinacare.org , http://www.chinacare.org/news/2009/08/28/three-little-girls). Four years ago our family delivered medical supplies and clothes to this Orphanage. After delivering the supplies we were given a tour of the orphanage and had the privilege of playing with the children for the day. Little did we know that four years later we would be returning to this home to meet our daughter.

Liu Fang has lived in The China Care Home for the past 2 years.She was taken there 2 years ago when her orphanage could not care for her complex heart condition . China requires the child to be returned to their original orphanage and province to start their adoption paperwork . Once the family arrives in the province the paperwork is then completed. Liu Fang would have to travel back to Luliang Social Welfare Institute in Shanxi Province. WE had many concerns with her making this trip alone and the stress it would put on her heart. We asked if they would allow her to wait for us to arrive in Beijing and accompany her on the trip back to her original orphanage. ( This is usually never allowed because the family adopting the child does not have custody until all adoption paperwork is completed in the province.) Well we received an email today saying they would allow her to wait for us to arrive in Beijing and then we could accompany her back to Luliang Orphanage on the train WITH HER NANNY !!!!! This is unbelievable news because now if she should become critical we will be able to provide her with immediate health care . ( in China, hospitals require payment upfront before medical care is provided ). WE also will have the entire day on the train to play and bond with her while she has the comfort of her Nanny with her. I am sure Lucy will keep her well entertained!

We are grateful for how GOD is making the impossible POSSIBLE !